New Revised Standard Version
Because they ministered to them before their idols and made the house of Israel stumble into iniquity, therefore I have sworn concerning them, says the Lord GOD, that they shall bear their punishment.

Contemporary English Version
But because these Levites served the people of Israel when they worshiped idols, I, the LORD God, promise that the Levites will be punished. They did not stop the Israelites from sinning,

New American Bible
Because they used to serve them before their idols, thus becoming a stumbling block to the house of Israel, therefore I have sworn an oath against them, says the Lord GOD, and they will bear the consequences of their sin.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Because they ministered to them before their idols, and were a stumblingblock of iniquity to the house of Israel: therefore have I lifted up my hand against them, saith the Lord God, and they shall bear their iniquity:

Because they ministered to them before their idols, and were a stumblingblock of iniquity to the house of Israel: therefore have I lifted up my hand against them, saith the Lord God, and they shall bear their iniquity:

they ministered

1 Samuel 2:29,30 Why have you kicked away my victims, and my gifts which I commanded to be offered in the temple: and thou hast rather honoured thy sons than me, to eat the firstfruits of every sacrifice of my people Israel? . . .

2 Kings 16:10-16 And king Achaz went to Damascus to meet Theglathphalasar, king of the Assyrians, and when he had seen the altar of Damascus, king Achaz sent to Urias, the priest, a pattern of it, and its likeness, according to all the work thereof. . . .

Isaiah 9:16 And they that call this people blessed, shall cause them to err: and they that are called blessed, shall be thrown down, headlong.

Hosea 4:6 My people have been silent, because they had no knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will reject thee, that thou shalt not do the office of priesthood to me: and thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children.

Hosea 5:1 Hear ye this, O priests, and hearken, O ye house of Israel, and give ear, O house of the king: for there is a judgment against you, because you have been a snare to them whom you should have watched over and a net spread upon Thabor.

Malachi 2:8,9 But you have departed out of the way, and have caused many to stumble at the law: you have made void the covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of hosts. . . .

Ezekiel 14:3,4 Son of man, these men have placed their uncleannesses in their hearts, and have set up before their face the stumblingblock of their iniquity: and shall I answer when they inquire of me? . . .

therefore

Ezekiel 20:6,15,23,28 In that day I lifted up my hand for them to bring them out of the land of Egypt, into a land which I had provided for them, flowing with milk and honey, which excelled amongst all lands. . . .

Deuteronomy 32:40-42 I will lift up my hand to heaven, and I will say: I live for ever. . . .

Psalm 106:26 And he lifted up his hand over them: to overthrow them in the desert;

Amos 8:7 That we may possess the needy for money, and the poor for a pair of shoes, and may sell the refuse of the corn?

Revelation 10:5,6 And the angel whom I saw standing upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven. . . .

and they shall

Ezekiel 44:10,13 Moreover the Levites that went away far from me, when the children of Israel went astray, and have wandered from me after their idols, and have borne their iniquity: . . .